The Reason for This Viral ‘Women of Marvel’ Pic Will Melt Your Heart

With the trailer for Avengers: Infinity War dropping today, fans of the Marvel franchise are getting their first glimpse at the next installment in the comic book heroes’ epic tale. And new movies (including a Brie Larson-helmedCaptain Marveland the upcoming Black Panther) will soon add to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.

After the runaway success of this year’s DC movie, Wonder Woman, fans are showing studios that we *love* seeing female superheroes. And we’re not the only ones. One of the writers of Thor: Ragnarok snapped a photo of some of the many women involved in the MCU — and the reason behind the pic will melt your heart.

With past and future MCU cast members together for an epic feature in Vanity Fair, Craig Kyle managed to photograph a handful of the badass babes hanging out for the sort-of reunion. He called it, appropriately, “the coolest picture I have ever taken #BadassLadiesofMarvel.”

Featuring Zoe Saldana, who plays Gamora (Guardians of the Galaxy); Tessa Thompson, who plays Valkyrie (Thor: Ragnarok); Brie Larson, who will play Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Captain Marvel); Scarlett Johansson, who’s played Natasha Romanov/Black Widow nearly 12 times; Danai Gurira, who will play Okoye (Black Panther); Karen Gillan, who plays Nebula (Guardians of the Galaxy); Evangeline Lilly, who plays Hope Pym (Ant-Man); and Pom Klementieff, who plays Mantis (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.), Kyle’s pic is just a small sample of the amazing talent in these exciting movies.

When Kyle reshared his snap on Twitter, he clarified exactly what made the photo so important, writing, “I took this for my daughter.” Which speaks entirely for itself, doesn’t it?

The snap is going viral, and the women in the pic are advocating for themselves on screen, too. According to reports, Tessa Thompson, who plays Valkyrie, the scene-stealing warrior in Thor: Ragnarok, has already approached MCU boss Kevin Feige about an all-female Avengers-style movie.

“It was a pretty amazing moment to be somewhere and have your shoulder get tapped and turn around [and] every female hero we have is standing there going, ‘How about it?'” Feige recounted of being approached by Thompson and a handful of other MCU stars. “And I said, ‘Yes.'” That may not be official confirmation, exactly, but it’s the kind of inception female superhero fans need.

There is, after all, an all-woman branch of the team just waiting to be tapped for the big screen.